Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Can I wear this to work?

109 replies

ApplePayMe · 04/12/2023 22:05

Dreading my upcoming month at work. I have an important set of clients visiting my office, with the most senior person in my company & a board of directors in attendance. Office dress code is usually smart-casual though more smart for these visits.

I am not sure what to wear to make a good impression, as I have put on weight recently and feel anything that clings to my stomach or waist looks bad. I’m a petite size 12 Apple

What do you think of a dress like this, ie satin material, midi or maxi length. I would wear with opaque tights and maybe heeled boots. Could throw on a blazer or jacket on top, or a jumper if needed? Just feel it’s a more forgiving material on my arms/torso.

Can I wear this to work?
Can I wear this to work?
OP posts:
LivelyBlake · 05/12/2023 07:10

OP, Massimo Dutti has loose tops and dresses that may be flattering, in black, grey and neutral colours.

fluffiphlox · 05/12/2023 07:13

Go to somewhere like Hobbs and ask for assistance. Make sure you are on the ball with the technical aspects of your job.

Desolatewardrobe · 05/12/2023 07:13

HeddaGarbled · 05/12/2023 00:11

Seriously, men just wear suits and then people don’t look at their clothes, they listen to what they’ve got to say. Wear the equivalent - bland, corporate, unexceptional, professional - and impress them with your expertise, not a dress.

Men aren’t listening to men over women because of what they wear.

GordoStevensMustache · 05/12/2023 07:17

I love that @versiunal and @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle seem to be in some kind of lawyer off, competing to see who works in the more prestigious firm.

morellamalessdrama · 05/12/2023 07:22

A satin shirt with trousers is a safe bet. Channel your inner Gillian Anderson in The Fall.

Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink · 05/12/2023 07:40

Why are you dressing to impress. At work you impress with your brain not your outfit. Just wear what you usually wear going to be obvious you’re trying to impress if you rock up in this but for all the wrong reasons it looks light glam nightwear.

Westfacing · 05/12/2023 08:01

You'll freeze to death in those dresses! How would you travel to work in a maxi and what sort of coat?

I'm also a petite 12 with a bit of a gut and wrap-arounds do us no favours - also anything a bit flouncy/drapey is hard to match with a formal jacket.

Ginmonkeyagain · 05/12/2023 08:18

For smart work wear you want to be comfortable, appropriate and confident. You need to wear the dress, not the other way round. If you are an apple shaped I would go for a more structured dress in a thick, good quality, jersey material.

If you want to make a splash get one in a bright colour.

I have a lovely thick jersey, long sleeved knee length shift dress in bright red, it has an optional belt tie as well. I wear it with low heels to a lot of smarter work things. It is comfortable, appropriate and keeps everything in.

Those dresses you linked to look inappropriate style and material wise (and frankly a bit cheap) and you will spend all the time adjusting them and worrying they are revealing too much leg or boob.

DerekFaker · 05/12/2023 09:12

versiunal · 04/12/2023 23:30

Ah. Magic circle here. The multi national influence probably makes a difference @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle

Are you The Lovely Debbie McGee?

I like the red one, Op. I think it could work with the right jacket, etc. Not sure about the navy though.

I think you might like to bare in mind that the senior women might have a bit more leeway with their clothes and still get taken seriously BECAUSE they are senior.

Mumofoneandone · 05/12/2023 09:33

Am a big fan of jersey dresses - lots around and work well with blazers. I'm very conscious of my middle too, so want something forgiving!
I've used joules, seasalt, white stuff - can always add a scarf to add some variety!

DerekFaker · 05/12/2023 09:48

Bear not bare! Don't go naked at the office.

ManateeFair · 05/12/2023 10:01

A midi length, jersey wrap dress is fine to wear to work.

A satin wrap dress with billowing sleeves, especially full length, is evening wear meant for parties and would look out of place in most office environments. Those dresses in the pictures would also look odd with a blazer/jacket over them.

Just look for a wrap dress in a less glitzy style with a matte fabric rather than satin, and with a less extravagant sleeve. Or go for a midi-length 'tea dress' style that's cut under the bust, or something in a fit and flare kind of style. I also have a couple of slightly oversize shirt dresses that tie at the waist which are great for hiding my pot-belly, and they're really easy to dress up or down.

housethatbuiltme · 05/12/2023 10:36

Do you work in an art gallery and will be meeting over mimosas? or are you meeting at the xmas party? then maybe but an standard office type job, no.

I would go with smart work wear, like trousers/straight skit with shirt/blouse and blazer/smart jacket not something you would wear to a party.

bluebeck · 05/12/2023 10:37

Not sure what sector you are OP but I am legal working in London.

The dresses you posted are unsuitable in my view. I’m a big fan of Finery and see someone else has already linked them.

For inspiration maybe watch The Split?

MelsMoneyTree · 05/12/2023 10:46

If you're feeling self-conscious about your stomach then neither of those dresses will help. You're better with fit and flare; bias cut; empire line or a ruched/pleated waist. And tbh in a more forgiving material.
For a statement colour, pattern, material then Damsel in a Dress are good. They also are known for silk, billowing sleeve dresses that still look like workwear. Also try House of Fraser or TKMaxx for discount Max Mara or Mela.

Max Mara Twist Pleat Dress

Mela pleated shirt dress

Orange twist drape waist

Desolatewardrobe · 05/12/2023 10:56

As someone with a tummy, I find empire line a nightmare. It always makes me look pregnant.

newhouse12345 · 05/12/2023 11:14

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 04/12/2023 22:39

OP, tbh, those dresses are so unsuitable I thought this was a wind up.

Don't be ridiculous

shearwater2 · 05/12/2023 11:39

I'm a lawyer and no longer work in a law firm (hurrah). I wear far more flamboyant things to the office now than I ever would in a law firm - was so glad to get out of the black and grey clothes.

Even so the split in the midi dress is a bit high for me and the other one is definitely not office wear. There are some other good suggestions.

I like expressing my personality through my clothes at work and I am senior, and in male dominated environment, usually severely outnumbered - what men do clothes-wise is neither here nor there to me, most of them are extremely dull and/or scruffy, and I do really notice a snappy/smart dresser who makes more effort. Dull, stale, pale, middle aged men are not the default I need to look to and I enjoy standing out from the crowd - in the right way, not because of a thigh split or my boobs falling out of my top. But also because of my knowledge, professionalism and approach- the right clothes just help me express that and help me feel confident and do my job properly. As an individual though, not a corporate brand.

I would wear the midi one for certain events though, it's really nice. Just not for a regular day in the office.

DerekFaker · 05/12/2023 11:46

MelsMoneyTree · 05/12/2023 10:46

If you're feeling self-conscious about your stomach then neither of those dresses will help. You're better with fit and flare; bias cut; empire line or a ruched/pleated waist. And tbh in a more forgiving material.
For a statement colour, pattern, material then Damsel in a Dress are good. They also are known for silk, billowing sleeve dresses that still look like workwear. Also try House of Fraser or TKMaxx for discount Max Mara or Mela.

Max Mara Twist Pleat Dress

Mela pleated shirt dress

Orange twist drape waist

I love that orange one!

TheBossOfMe · 05/12/2023 11:54

I work in a creative industry and the red dress would absolutely be worn by women in my office. The navy one is too long to count as daywear though.

TheBossOfMe · 05/12/2023 11:55

MelsMoneyTree · 05/12/2023 10:46

If you're feeling self-conscious about your stomach then neither of those dresses will help. You're better with fit and flare; bias cut; empire line or a ruched/pleated waist. And tbh in a more forgiving material.
For a statement colour, pattern, material then Damsel in a Dress are good. They also are known for silk, billowing sleeve dresses that still look like workwear. Also try House of Fraser or TKMaxx for discount Max Mara or Mela.

Max Mara Twist Pleat Dress

Mela pleated shirt dress

Orange twist drape waist

Whereas those would be seen as very frumpy in my industry. So it rather depends on the style of your working environment.

worryingalot · 05/12/2023 12:08

I don’t think those would be good for what you’ve described
I think silk blouses are always nice if you want silky
find a skirt or trousers that fit and maybe a jacket or cardigan or even sort of funkier trousers with a jacket over
(I am also dreading work soon and have no clothes as I’ve gained weight so I’m wondering what the hell to do!)

Tighginn · 05/12/2023 14:51

Seriously?